Culture

Belgium, 7th Art and Golden Palm

We can only start talking about the Belgian Cinema from the end of the first World War onwards, but it's the pioneers from those days who will allow the birth of the documentary school with Henri Storck (Misère au Borinage, 1933) and of course much later, the emergence of exceptional film makers including those in the category of animated film.

André Delvaux introduces the modern period of Belgian fiction cinema and opens the doors towards international recognition with "l'Homme au Crâne Rasé" (1966) or "Rendez-vous à Bray" (Prix Louis Delluc in 1971) but also the Dardenne brothers with "Rosetta" (Golden Palm in Cannes in 1999), Jaco Van Dormael with "Toto le Héros" (Golden Camera in Cannes and César in 1991), Gérard Corbiau and his "Farinelli" or the "Maître de Musique", Alain Berliner and "Ma Vie en Rose" (1997), Rémy Belvaux and "C'est Arrivé près de Chez Vous" (1992), and also Chantal Akerman, Marion Hansel, Jean-Jacques Andrien ...so many talented people, too many to name them, but they have all left their mark on international cinema.

These film makers wouldn't be anything without the quality of the actors, playwrights, composers who come from our regions and especially our schools (INSAS, IAD),... - Even here it is difficult to name everyone, but we would like to mention a few exceptional actors.

Benoît Poelvoorde
Emilie Dequenne
Natacha Régnier
Cécile de France
Olivier Gourmet
Pascal Duquenne
Marie Gillain
Jérémie Rénier
Jacques Brel
Annie Cordy

... but also some genius composers such as Toots Thielemans (in "Macadam Cow-Boy"), Wim Mertens (in the "Ventre de l'Architecte de Greeneway 1986).

The most important thing to grasp the originality of our cinema is to understand that it is largely marked by an identity obsession, but that it is also laced with a genius touch of self-mockery. Thanks to all these famous and award-winning assets, Belgian cinema has become one of our best ambassadors in the world!

We celebrate the cinema several times a year during events, festivals and meetings with an international aura. You'll find a few examples below: